FEDERAL POLITICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 24

FEDERAL POLITICS.

FEAR OF A CRISIS. UNEXPECTED MOVES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 7. There is every indication that serious trouble looms ahead for the BrucePage Government. More than that there is lack of harmony in eacli of the three ‘ Federal Parties—Nationalists, Country, and Labour—and it seems certain that the proceedings of the new Parliament, which was opened yesterday, will be far from peaceful. Indications have not been lacking of intrigues, but it was difficult to define the character of these until the parties met at Canberra before the opening of the session.

There are those who are already counting the hours of the Coalition Government. They base their action on a bitter attack on the Country Party made by the Prime Minister at the pre-aessional meeting of the Nationalist Party. On that occasion Mr Bruce was very outspoken, and it was the first public indication that feelings were strained. There had been a great deal of comment on the fact that since the last general election Dr Page, Leader of the Country Party and Treasurer, kept away from Canberra for nearly two months and took absolutely no part in the recent Cabinet reconstruction. It has been revealed .that Mr Bruce complained that the , Country Party had been guilty of a breach of faith in allowing its candidates to stand in opposition to sitting Nationalist members, in conflict with the election pact entered into by the leader's at the end of last session. The Nationalist Party, he pointed out, had honoured an agreement, although it could have retaliated by nominating candidates to oppose sitting Country Party representatives The opinion was expressed that these breaches of faith were responsible for the reduced strength of the Ministerial Parties.

Speculation is already rife as to what would happen in the event of a breach between the two Ministerial parties. It is considered that arrangements could easily be made to keep Labour out of power, and to that end a proposal has already been made to form a new party which would be strong enough to command a majority. The idea is to form a united party, by which it is hoped to cement all the forces that are opposed to Labour. Mr Rogers/ member for Wannan (Victoria) is the prime mover. He has directed special attention to the observations of the British Economic Mission, and has urged that consideration should be given to these in framing the policy of the new party. It id generally known that Mr Bruce would welcome the breaking up of the coalition, and he is among the Nationalists who are in agreement with Mr Rogers. The only difficulty is in devising some practical means of giving effect to the proposal. It is doubtful whether Mr''Hughes is the spent force which so many people assert. On the contrary, he exercises a powerful influence still, and it can be taken for granted that he does not remain in the background while intrigues are progressing. Last session he did not attend the meetings of the Nationalist Parliamentry Party, but he was present at the pre-sessional meeting on Tuesday. He then made a vigorous attack upon the Bruoe-Page alliance. He reserved his main outburst until the joint meeting of the Ministerial parties to consider the Speakership 'of the House of Representatives. He vigorously denounced those who were responsible for the nonobservance of the election pact arrangements. - ° It was in regard to the Speakership that the Ministry received a severe rebuff from its own followers. A joint meeting was held for the purpose of deciding upon a nomination. Although Ministers refrained from stating openly that they favoured the candidature of any particular member, they let it be known among private members that all their support would go to Mr .1. g. Bayley, the Nationalist member for Oxley (Queensland) if he were nominated in opposition to the retiring Speaker (Sir Littleton Groom). Mr Bayley’s nomination was proposed, but Ministers received a rude shock when it became apparent that members were determined to disregard the wishes of the Ministry, and to give their support to Sir Littleton Groom. The indications that Sir Littleton Groom would receive the support of the majority ''l ere 80 unmistakable that eventually Mr Bayley withdrew his nomination. Ministers had no option but to support Sir Littleton Groom. This incident was only another indication of lack of unity, and the Labour Party, heartened by its increased strength, applauded the news. As far as the Labour Party is concerned Mr Theodore has advanced another step. He has deposed Mr Blakely as the deputy leader. Mr Blakely had many friends, and Mr Theodore’s election may not advance the harmony of the party. Nevertheless Labour enters upon the work of the session full of enthusiasm, and will take every advantage of the lack of harmony among its opponents. Its object will be to force a crisis and an early e]ection., It may succeed sooner than it anticipates.